Concept Design Group, wants to tear down five houses and replace them with new apartment buildings that will feature six two-bedroom apartments.

They are asking city planners for permission to squeeze the 2 1/2-story buildings onto the 50-foot lots along Livingston Avenue.

The parcel are currently owned by The Artesian Group, which owns or controls more than 50 properties in the neighborhood overlooking downtown and the Michigan Hill medical complex. Concept has an option to purchase the parcels from the Artesian Group.

Neighborhood organizers say they want to complete a master planning process for the neighborhood before the city gives anyone permission to build new housing that increase the density.

The dispute may be settled later this month by the city Planning Commission, which has scheduled a May 14 public hearing.

The planning process, which has been ongoing for the past year and a half, will be complete by September, said Kristi DeKraker, executive director of the Neighbors of Belknap Lookout.

"Neighborhoods need time to digest and truly understand what density means and what affect this has on my property and where I live," DeKraker said.

Other neighbors are upset about Artesian's plan to tear down existing homes and fear the new developments will drive out affordable housing opportunities, she said.

According to DeKraker, about 70 percent of housing units in the neighborhood are currently rentals, she said. The neighborhood is becoming increasingly popular with health-care professionals and students.

Andy Guy, a member of the steering committee working on the plan, said it should be completed before developers are allowed to put up new buildings.

"The plan is going to determine where density is going to happen," Guy said. "Whether the plan calls for increased density along the Livingston corridor has yet to be determined."

Stephen Fry, an architect with Concept Design Group, said the five apartment buildings will not conflict with any of the plans in the neighborhood's future.

Fry acknowledged the proposal to build the apartment buildings could push the planning process to a conclusion after an earlier effort stalled.

"The earlier process took twice as long and twice as many dollars as we thought it would," Fry said. "We simply want to keep the process moving."

If built, Fry said the new buildings would offer lower rental rates in their lower units to keep affordable housing in the neighborhood.

"The goal is to redevelop this neighborhood and make it affordable," Fry said. "It's simply trying to do the right thing for this neighborhood."

Grand Rapids Press File PhotoA street with a view: Residents, shown here watching a motorcade carrying former President Gerald Ford's coffin, have a bird's eye view of the city for such events as downtown fireworks displays.